ALAS ... the author is speaking common sense. Unfortunately there seems to be little of that about due to our feral media, in particular "her ABC" and Dr Stormin Norman Swan who continues to hype the luvies who hang upon every word of misinformation and anxiety he puts out on air and via his podcasts!

Even worse the media blame country leaders like Trump, Johnson and Morrison for mis-handling, yet it is the state level of government ( NI, Scotland and Wales in UK case) that have control over the resources. The ABC loves Lady Gladys, yet she covered or Health Minister Hazard over the Ruby Princess in NSW, and Chairman Dan gets regular popularity awards for his willful mismanagement of hotels and dictatorial abuse of freedom in Victoria. As for the Queen of Queensland, that states lockdown.

The one thing the author failed to mention was the pandemic of epidemiologist that is spreading at a rate faster than Covid itself! They, just like their climate change cultists, will do even more damage than Covid pandemic should we allow them to control future pandemics which are now more likely due the attention they have received this year.

Excellent analysis, Rhys, putting it all in proportion with well-researched analysis and data.

Well, Dr Jones, we all get that you're alright Jack! We also get that you're not a doctor of medicine but a number cruncher!

That we do not yet understand all the long-term complications and health outcomes of succumbing to this virus! Leave the medical advice to those not clueless. We are not numbers and raw data, Sir!

Not everyone has a chopper parked on their back lawn and a entire hospital dedicated to them!

We also get that you think anyone over fifty is past its use-by date! Demonstrates a level of calloused indifference that we've not seen since the Wiameir Republic

We have recently developed a reliable three-minute test that we have yet to deploy.

The wearing of masks, social distancing plus good hand hygiene among compliant populations has resulted in vastly reduced cold and flu infections and a consequent vastly reduced death toll from the flu!(Bugger!)

That self-isolation when you are sick, prevents much cross-infecttion/allows the healthy to remain largely uninfected, more productive!(Bugger!)

If we want to change how we deal with this pandemic, for that is what it is!

The British P.M. will dispute your caviler anyalis of how deadly this virus really is!

That said, if we deployed the recently developed, reliable three-minute test at all important entry/exit points/borders, we could identify who is infected and quarantine that cohort behind wire until they test negative!

Many will claim their civil rights are being abused! But the healthy cohort will thank us for reducing the chance they can become infected!

This virus lives much longer on some surfaces than previously thought!

Infection in apparently healthy young folk may have long-term deleterious consequences. including seriously shortened lives, damaged hearts, lungs, kidneys, the brain!

All of which may not be immediately apparent to the, comparably healthy victim!

But may well be, if they develop early onset Parkinsons or require several heart valve replacements or a kidney transplant/enduring dialysis, develop debilitating fatigue syndrome!

You'll have a nice day now y'hear.
Alan B.

Thanks for your comment Alan. Aside from the personal insults, is there any aspect of the article that is incorrect? Just to return the ad hominen attacks and assumptions:, you are clearly not a small business owner who has lost everything you have worked for over a lifetime; you are clearly not a school student who has missed the best part of a year of schooling; you are clearly not a school leaver who is now unable to find a job and will start their working life with a year or two of unemployment; you are clearly not a grieving relative who has been unable to attend a loved ones funeral; You have clearly not been a spouse who has been forced to let their wife die alone in isolation; you are clearly not a young person who has been unable to celebrate their wedding with friends and family; you are clearly not a young person who will spend their tax paying life dealing with a public debt in the hundreds of billions or even trillions of dollars; you are clearly not a person who values their civil liberties.
You have been a victim of the scare mongering campaign orchestrated by politicians, public servants, the media and other vested interests.
Unless you are a nursing home resident, and I suspect you are not, then you have little to fear.

Our dumbed down community being led by the 'experts'. The same ones who said dams would no longer fill on the east coast and that the 'science' is settled. That is what happens when gutless conservatives protect their backsides by allowing putried leftist propaganda to be taught as science in schools. The loonies are literally in charge. Oh for a Trump to stand up to this facism.

Those morons at QIT ganging up on our PM this morning, are a typical crowd that demonstrates against the so-called mishandling of the Virus. Yet here these utter idiots are crowded around the PM's car screaming & yelling like the idiots they are spreading the virus !
Talk about stupidity ! All I can say is Labor, you're welcome to these morons !

Good onya Rhys.
Most of the posters on this forum appear to be self styled experts in many subjects and general insulters....

pseudo-individual,

It's alright old fella.

Don't go getting yourself all worked up.

None of those protestors had the virus.

ateday,

Aren't they ever.

I prefix them with a good old fashioned 'pseudo-' in order to keep track of them.

According to an article in The Age this morning: Australians should take Europe and the United States off their travel list for the whole of next year if there is no coronavirus vaccine, with Tourism Minister Simon Birmingham declaring the Morrison government's priority is to establish travel bubbles with "other low-risk nations". http://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/rising-covid-cases-take-europe-and-us-off-the-travel-list-for-next-year-20201009-p563j9.html

Of course this has always been about the vaccine...

Software billionaire Bill Gates is leading the 'race for the coronavirus vaccines' and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is currently the top funder of the WHO. The US and UK are the second and third funders of the WHO, and these countries are also pushing vaccine products, the US with the Moderna vaccine, and the UK with the AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is involved with promoting the Moderna and AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccines too. The Gavi Alliance is the fourth funder of the WHO - Gavi was founded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation which is a key Gavi partner in vaccine market shaping. 

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation also co-founded the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) which, along with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation-funded WHO and Gavi, is leading COVAX, which is working with the vaccine industry to vaccinate the entire world with coronavirus vaccine products. The other co-founders of CEPI are the World Economic Forum and the Wellcome Trust, and the governments of Norway and India. Australia, the UK and other countries are investors and partners in CEPI.

It’s astonishing that the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is dominating international vaccination policy, it’s way past time for scrutiny of this organisation and its conflicts of interest. 

We also have to question whether mass population vaccination with coronavirus vaccine products, potentially every year for life, is the right way to go for a virus that isn’t a threat to most people.

ElizabethHart,

Keep your fingers crossed that China will be on Simon Birmingham's 'Bubble list'.

Look how successful China was in getting rid of the coronavirus and it is now one of the few low-risk nations in the world.

I mean honestly, you do think China is telling the truth don't you? I mean it was China who found out and told the rest of the world that Covid-19 came from the US.

I'm sure Morrison is eager to start bringing in millions of cashed up Chinese as soon as possible in order to stimulate the economy. So I'm guessing that a China-Australia air corridor is in the pipeline.

What do you reckon?

I don't know Mr Opinion...

Although China does get a mention in this Sky New segment with Rowan Dean: ‘The Great Reset’: World leaders to harness COVID and pursue 'sinister' climate agenda: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GeykREAlYSg

ElizabethHart,

Interesting ....... but terrifying.

But the point I was making is that China is a Covid-19 virus success sorry. Ask Simon Birmingham if you don't believe me.

And I'm sure Morrison will be put China right at the top of the 'Bubble List'. After all, China has all those cashed up prospective migrants and a vast pool of low paid workers that Scotty and the boys need to get hold of asap.

Go Simon! Go Scotty! Go China!

Mr Opinion, and the point I'm making is it's all about the vaccine...

In which regard, see for info my email to the COVID-19 Vaccines and Treatments for Australia - Science and Industry Technical Advisory Group: http://vaccinationispolitical.files.wordpress.com/2020/10/coronavirus-vaccination-is-it-ethical-to-vaccinate-children-to-protect-the-elderly.pdf

Mr Jones, I thought I was reasoned and polite! And called a spade a spade! The fact you identified it as abuse shows a level of intellect that knows SFA about viruses or medicine.

I gave what almost any idiot would have to conclude was a safe way to open both borders and the economy. I get that what you can't see, isn't going to harm you long term!

As for nursing home residents being of no use or value as you seem to conclude in your demostably calloused indifference!

All of them are the Parents or Grandparents of someone, who unlike you, clearly gives a rats about their lives and comfort!

The level of neglect and abuse in some of these places is breathtaking! I get that, that doesn't demonstrably bother you very much, Sir!

If you want our borders and economy reopened ASAP? Then get the reliable, noninvasive, three minute breath test rolled out at all important entry and exit points and borders!

I mean, truck drivers are not immune and parts of the cab could carry the virus for seven or more days!

That's why we need to to roll out the three minute test at all borders etc, and test all who cross! Then compel the mandatory 2 week isolation of the infected! And just too easy!

Simply put. voluntary self-isolation would work but for noncompliant idiots, who like you, claim/believe it is less harmful than the flu!

And if you don't like how long we've had to shutdown? Just look in the mirror to explain why! And if you think that is abuse? Well then, just don't look!

Thank God the government is taking expert medical advice from medicos, not indifferent number crunchers who self-evidently, don't give a rats for anybody else!

Sorry if the truth hurts your delicate feelings, poor little ickle didums, but someone needs to put it out there!
Alan B.

While the author should have his freedom to live with the virus, he should not interfere with those of us who prefer to live virus-free: while the author should be able to do whatever he likes within his group of those who do not care about the virus, we need not apologise for preventing, in self-defense, that group from infecting the rest of us through physical contact.

In Australia (plus New-Zealand, minus Victoria), we are the envy of the world: who wouldn't wish to be in our place? Yes, regrettably we have restrictions, but where else in the world can anyone have both the freedom from the virus and so few restrictions on their personal freedoms as us? Once we finish off the remaining cases, likely in a month or two, we could lift even the remaining restrictions, except on international arrivals. The author ought to be welcome to leave Australia, so long as he commits not to return until a vaccine is available.

Yesterday, for the first time since the pandemic began, my orchestra was allowed to perform in a nursing home, entertaining the poor residents who are desperately locked there for no fault of their own. Where else in the world could this even be conceivable? Indeed, in how many countries can orchestras even gather for rehearsals? We should be so thankful!

Other than preventing the author and his like-thinking friends to leave this relative heaven that we live in, Australia made one more major error by restricting the movement and activities of those who already recovered from the virus. Anyone who chooses to "live with the virus" should get themselves infected while serving an appropriate period of isolation, then they should be able to move about freely (but perhaps, if doctors so believe, be required to be re-infected monthly to maintain their anti-bodies). However, they should not expect to consume stressed medical resources while ill, both in the acute stage and in the likely chronic stage that follows, as their choices must never be allowed to overwhelm the health-system or prevent others from having elective surgery.

It's the infamous Neil Ferguson et al report that recommended suppression of the virus as the preferred option.*

Ferguson et al say: "The major challenge of suppression is that this type of intensive intervention package – or something equivalently effective at reducing transmission – will need to be maintained until a vaccine becomes available (potentially 18 months or more) – given that we predict that transmission will quickly rebound if interventions are relaxed. We show that intermittent social distancing – triggered by trends in disease surveillance – may allow interventions to be relaxed temporarily in relative short time windows, but measures will need to be reintroduced if or when case numbers rebound."

So suppression is to be kept up "until a vaccine becomes available"...

We have no idea of the ultimate social and economic costs of this long-term experiment...

* Neil M Ferguson et al. Report 9: Impact of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) to reduce COVID-19 mortality and healthcare demand. Imperial College COVID-19 Response Team. 16 March 2020: http://www.imperial.ac.uk/media/imperial-college/medicine/mrc-gida/2020-03-16-COVID19-Report-9.pdf

It's the regonomy.

We've already learned to live with the virus, and it adversely impacts our quality of life. Better to eliminate the virus so we can get back to normal ASAP.

I just see it as more of the same from the ever expanding regulation state loved by rent-seekers and the impractical alike.
Always imposing cost and control for no productive benefit.
Well no benefit other than an income for themselves. Which is why they'll never admit their mistakes.
Everything's so regulated now we don't really have an economy any more. I'm calling it a regonomy now.

Unfortunately so many believe the fear porn and propaganda the news entertainment industry spew out.

It's said the Chernobyl disaster helped in finally exposing the corruption and incompetence of the soviet regonomy.
Maybe this will be our meltdown.

Dear Yuyutsu,
I do not wish to interfere in your life. The thing is you can perfectly protect yourself from this virus without interfering with my life. If you wish to remain at home and avoid catching this virus then that is absolutely fine by me. You staying home does not require me to stay home too. It is the fearful people like yourself who wish to lock me away to protect you. you say we are the envy of the world. I don't think Melbournians would be in this category.
I am merely pointing out that the dangerousness of this virus to most people has been grossly overstated. It is not harmful to the vast majority of the population. Almost all those who may die from it are already at the very end of their life and are vulnerable to almost any illness, including flu, bed sores, a fall or slip in the shower. If we had protected these vulnerable people in the first place and allowed the rest of us to deal with this infection in the usual way, it would have mostly been over by now and the restrictions on nursing homes could have been lifted. Despite the extraordinary response to this virus, this is the one group of people we have failed to protect. Furthermore, This has been the case almost everywhere in the world. As I said in the article, 75% of Australian deaths are nursing home residents, despite them making up only a very small portion of those infected. They can be perfectly well protected without destroying the lives of the rest of society. Whats more, the sooner we allow the healthy portion of the population to catch the virus, the sooner we can remove the restrictions on nursing homes. I find it horrifying that nursing home residents are being denied the right to see their families in their final years and months. The sooner we get it over the better for everyone, including the vulnerable.

Dear Rhys,

Of course I have no wish to lock you: if you can come up with creative, ingenious ideas on how you can live your normal life without infecting me and the rest (in fact the majority) of us who fear the virus, then by all means, I would support that. So far the simplest idea I can come with is that you get yourself infected, isolate for the necessary period, then come out and do what you like.

Your key statement is: "the sooner we allow the healthy portion of the population to catch the virus, the sooner..." and I definitely agree, but your word should remain ALLOW, not INFECT, against people's will. Most people, I believe, would not grab that option, but you are welcome to try and persuade them.

I also find it horrifying when nursing home residents are being denied the right to see their families, but this is not the case in Australia... apart from Victoria. Residents do not get to see as many visitors as often as they like, but the compromise is reasonable under the circumstances, in most states.

I am not that sadistic, punitive premier who made Victoria his special case, overtly jeopardising all recovery efforts there. I take no pleasure in other's sufferings and have no perverse need to feel in control. The rest of us have done very well.

I also find it horrifying when people are denied elective surgery or have tooth-ache for months and only offered pain-killers. There are however countries where even though surgery is not legally prohibited, doctors and hospitals are just so overwhelmed that they do not perform any.

Now why would you suggest that I stay at home after all this effort?
I already stayed at home as was necessary, had my share of pain, it was hard, but we earned our freedom so now my life has resumed 80% back to normal, soon even 90%. Would you like us to stop entertaining the old people in nursing homes?

[continued...]

[...continued]

Now for the disease: death is my last concern, for the dead suffer no more. The living do. Many describe the acute illness and pain as "worse than anything I ever had", then a large portion have lasting chronic problems as the virus can attack any parts of the body, not just the lungs. Scans show that many have holes in their lungs following COVID that reduce their breathing capacity and some remain short-breathed for life even after talking or climbing stairs. Others have heart damage, or brain-fog or never regained their full eye-sight. Research indicates that COVID increases the chances of diabetes and Parkinson disease. I don't want to take the chance.

Yes, I totally agree. Commonsense at last!

So get out there and start living with the virus and if you just happen to be one of the unlucky ones who gets it (because somebody will!) and die then you will just have to live with it!

You know if we just threw our hands in the air and said stuff it, well just roll the dice with peoples lives; if we had've done that from the start, many of you lot wouldn't be here anymore.

Don't let the useless Victorians who couldn't manage their own state whinge and complain and dictate lots for the rest of us.

This crap would've been a lot shorter if it wasn't for them.

The left and the right out protesting all through it.
Thousands of people not obeying quarantine or restrictions.

Victorians got lazy, they got selfish, they stopped caring about how a continuation of the virus affected others, they did what they wanted and they killed thousands of people;
- they put the whole nation at risk.

And it wasn't until the cops had to cross the line of right and wrong and treat them all like worthless scum that they actually started to pay attention.